abraxaslogs | {Darude Sandstorm Intensifies}

Okay. This is probably phenomenally stupid.

But. It's not like the opportunity comes around that often. It really doesn't. It's not as if he's going to be running around Cadens naked or anything. He's got facial protection, eye protection. He's in an out of the way part of town, where there was probably a house at one point. No one should come by. It's probably fine.

That is why he's slowly peeling off the protective layers he's wearing over his torso. Nothing but hide, plates and scale against the sandstorm.

... and it feels very, very nice. As funny as it might look. Or, crazy, maybe.

It's an out of the way part of the city, which means no one should be here, especially during a sandstorm like this. Most people in their right minds have taken shelter, but Steve knows there are some who don't have that option.

Thankfully, the city government has agreed to open an old theater and erect some temporary tents for anyone who doesn't have a reliable roof over their heads, but that still entails making sure they know about these options and can get there on foot when the winds are almost strong enough to blow someone away.

So, Steve is out here looking for anyone who falls into that description so that he can escort them to safety. He isn't expecting to run into—

Well, it takes him a minute to figure out what he's looking at. Garrus' height helps him put it together fairly quickly, but still, he's so bundled up (both of them are, in fact) that there's a moment where his brain short-circuits. It takes a few more seconds to realize that Garrus is essentially exposing his midriff... which, maybe this is a normal turian thing?

It's a hell of a thing to stumble upon, though.

"... Garrus?" The winds are so violent Steve can barely hear himself, and most of his face is currently covered with goggles and a scarf, protecting his eyes and mouth. He tries again, louder. "You all right?"

Oh crap.

Maybe he should have gone outside the city. Or into some private garden or something. Or better yet, he shouldn't have done this. That's the obvious thing that should have happened here. He recognizes the voice, even with the wind - thanks to the shouting.

And the reaction is an immediate jerk in place. Like he just stepped on a live wire. If he had hair, it'd be puffed up like a cat.

"I'm good!" If there were any turians in the area, they'd be laughing themselves stupid at the amount of embarrassment echoing around in those two words. Quick - he needs to say something smart. Something to smooth over this incident. Make sandblasting his hide seem absolutely normal, and not weird at all.

"How are you!"

... well done.

For the most part, Steve's interactions with Garrus have shown him to be a composed guy — a little long-suffering about how the people in Abraxas view him but also used to it by this point. They've joked around with each other, they've worked together, and while they may not know each other well, Steve can say with certainty that he's never seen Garrus act quite like this.

Fumbling, nervous. Embarrassed?

Steve tilts his head, not quite gathering why it's such a big deal.

"All right. I was looking for people who might need help getting to shelter." Since he realizes it's odd for him to be all the way out here, too. He draws closer, mainly so that they don't have to keep shouting quite so loudly to hear each other.

"Are storms like this common where you're from?" It might explain whatever Garrus was just doing. It's not that important, probably, but Steve can't help but be a little curious, especially with the turian's uncharacteristic behavior.

You should see him when his committed girlfriend flirts with him, Steve - now that's nervous and embarrassed.

It's probably not necessary to be so embarrassed about being caught out here. It's not like anyone is going to accuse him of being reckless when he's still taking precautions. Or that this is affecting anyone else. But... boy. How do you actually explain? Maybe they should take this conversation into somewhere sheltered.

"I was doing that earlier." Which is true. He absolutely was, before he got this idea. But to continue -

"Not on most habitable planet, no. But -" A gesture at the visible scales, plating. "My people are a little more durable on the outside than humans."

If Garrus swept through this area earlier looking for people, it would explain why Steve hasn't stumbled on anyone who might need help. Which probably means that they can head back for shelter themselves, with their eyes peeled for any stragglers along the way.

Usually Garrus is a lot more covered than this, so it's the first time that Steve's gotten a good look at the plating and scales that are not on his face. It does look like armor, honestly, and he has to wonder if there's something about the sand against it that feels... good?

Why else would Garrus have done that?

"To say the least, yeah. When sand is blown around this fiercely, it's enough to cause a rash on our skin, if not worse." Humans are pretty vulnerable in that way, although Steve himself could withstand a lot more. "Anyway, I... didn't mean to interrupt anything."

Does Garrus want him to leave so he can continue whatever it is he was doing...

He doesn't answer for a long moment, debating the merits of burying his face in his hands until the sand covers him up entirely. That would be preferable. But... not rational. And rational finally wins out over the embarrassment.

Better get this over with.

A motion of his hand towards something more sheltered - a little overhang acting as a windbreak. Less need to shout. Less sand blowing over there too.

And, once repositioned, he really can put his face in a hand. "It's - like those rough brushes for human skin. Loofers?" Loofahs. He means those. "Like if you mixed one of those with an electric sander. I haven't... it's been a long time, and it was getting noticeable."

... Yes, Steve, he is fully admitting he is standing topless in a sandstorm to exfoliate.

Steve doesn't hesitate to follow Garrus over to the sheltered area so that they can properly talk. As soon as they're under the overhang it becomes about ten times easier to hear himself think, which is nice.

While he's no expert in understanding turian expressions, it's still pretty clear from Garrus' body language that he's embarrassed about all this. Steve takes a second to figure out what Garrus actually means when he says loofers, but then it clicks.

While the idea of a loofah mixed with an electric sander is nothing but troubling, he's starting to understand Garrus' explanation, muddled as it is.

"Oh, it's kind of like the callus softeners we use to get the dead skin off the heels of our feet." Potentially a better comparison than a loofah, which is more to do with just scrubbing yourself clean. "Well, you have no reason to feel weird about it then. Basic hygiene, right?"

He smiles and reaches forward to give Garrus a quick pat on the shoulder. "Besides, you also helped to clear any people who were in trouble out of this area. Two birds, one stone."

Somehow, the feeling of understanding just makes him want to disappear into the ground a little more. Because it's not just basics. Soap and hot water can work just as well, he just has to work a little harder than a human would. Scrubbing, that is.

"It... I have someone to impress..."

Garrus always manages to drop his cue cards and stammer around any time he has to explain this. Any time he has to actually concentrate and flirt, rather than just taking what pops into his head naturally. For someone who's usually so damn practical, admitting he was trying to make himself look better for a girlfriend is - it's weird. Even if Steve is understanding about it.

"I mean, yeah. I'm not going to just stand around, looking pretty. I don't know how to do that."

Someone to impress? Both of Steve's eyebrows hike up at that, because he hadn't realized. Not that he would expect someone who's usually pretty professional like Garrus to have mentioned it until it became relevant, which is now.

Garrus does seem a little embarrassed, though, which is endearing. It's a side of him that Steve's never seen before, and it's not like he would be much better if he was put on the spot to talk about his relatively new relationship with Sam.

"How about sitting around looking pretty? This area seems to be pretty cleared out now, and you deserve a break. We can go grab something at Mag's if you want, and you can tell me about this someone."

He won't be offended if Garrus refuses him, but he has to admit he's a little curious, and it is about time to turn in. They're quickly losing daylight, not that the sun has had much of a chance to penetrate through the storm clouds.

He's a bit surprised Steve doesn't peg it right away. Mostly because Koby had it dead to rights almost immediately - but on the other hand, maybe he hasn't run into Shepard yet. So that would track. It's not like either of them are broadcasting it in neon lights.

Boy that would be embarrassing beyond belief.

"Yeah, I could use a drink." Less shouting to one another, less wind, and sand getting into crevices. Sure, it might not bother his plating, but breathing is a whole other story. "Looks like most people are already inside for now."

Even if Steve might have an inkling, he isn't going to jump to any conclusions about it either. While his own newly-formed relationship is with someone from home, that definitely doesn't have to be the case. Jaskier and Nadine serve as a good example of people who found that sort of closeness here in Abraxas.

They really do seem to be the only people still out and about. Steve hopes he hasn't interrupted Garrus' beauty regimen too much, but he won't put him on the spot yet again.

Instead, he turns on his heel and leads them back to the inn. Given how long he's been living there, he knows the quickest path back, and they make it in no time.

The inn has been converted into a sort of soup kitchen for those who have nowhere else to go, so it's packed. Steve ushers Garrus in, and then quickly tells him, "Let me grab us some drinks and then we can go up to my room."

He does as promised and leads Garrus up the stairs and down the hall, then hands him one of the drinks so he can grab for his keys to unlock the door to his suite, which he shares with Sam. Sam's busy downstairs serving up food for people, so there's plenty of space in the common area for Steve and Garrus to settle in.

"Make yourself comfortable." He gestures to the nearby couch.

He follows in casual step, keeping an eye out for any stragglers, just in case. They really do seem to be the only people out here, which is very good. They've been helping and making a difference, in that case. A relief, to be sure. He still keeps close on Steve's heels though. The blasting sand might not bother his scales, but he could still get turned around.

Once they're inside, he nods, and picks a nice, inconspicuous corner to lurk in. It helps, in these times, being so much taller than the general populace. Most of the time, it's a hassle to get clothing that works, or not bang his head on a doorway, but now, it's probably good so he stays easy to spot.

Then they're upstairs, and he's automatically scanning the area. Old habit, looking for escape routes, for sight lines. It's not something that's ever gone away. Probably never will. Still, he drops onto the couch, legs tucked in with his knees up past his waist. Like always, sitting in human seats. But no complaints here.

"Nice place," he says instead. "How'd you end up with it?"

Sandblasting - Evening

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject